(a) whether the Government have received representations regarding large scale irregularities and serious types of economic offences concerning the Directorate of Printing;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken on such representations?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT & POVERTY ALLEVIATION (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)
(a)to(c): The various issues concerning the Directorate of
Printing received through representations have been attended to
an appropriate replies have been given to the concerned
representationists. The relevant details are given in the
enclosed Annexure.
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO.1342 FOR 1.8.2000.
(1) MAINTENANCE OF PHOTOTYPE SETTING SYSTEM-6:
Annual Maintenance Contracts for the Phototype Setting
System - 6 in the Govt. of India Press, Minto Road has to be
awarded as there is no in-house facilities to maintain the said
system. Open tenders were called for every year which were
advertised in the Newspaper and Indian Trade Journal. A number
of firms responded. Technical suitability of the firms were
examined by the Purchase Committee/Technical Committee/Committee
of Managers. M/s APM Sales Corporation was found to be
technical most suitable for maintaining the said system. On the
basis of technical advice the Annual Maintenance Contracts with
M/s APM Sales Corporation were finalized. The said system
consists of 100 terminals, 3 Phototype Setting Units, 3
Processor Units, 2 Laser Printers all of which are to be network
of Central Processing Unit (CPU). All these equipment are in
running condition and provide full output of the jobs executed
in them.
(2) PROCUREMENT OF PAPER:
The Dte. of Printing procures printing paper on the
basis of average consumption during the previous three years,
also keeping in mind the necessity for maintaining stocks for
eight month`s requirement. Paper is procured with the approval
of the competent authority. It is procured against DGS&D Rate
Contract if it is as per requirements. In case of urgency or if
the required specifications do not match with the DGS&D Rate
Contract, open tenders are invited. Delivery is effected by the
firms only after pre-dispatch inspection by the DGS&D.
Consignees have the right of rejection if any store is found to
be deficient in specifications, etc. vis-a-vis Acceptance of
Tender or supply order specifications within stipulated time
limit. There is no question of accepting poor quality
consignment and all post purchase cases are subject to Audit.
(3) NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATES:
A very small portion of specialized jobs which cannot be
executed by the Govt. of India Presses are allowed to be
printed through private presses by grant of No Objection
Certificates. The number of NOCs issued to various Government
Departments constitute about 1% of the total job received for
printing in the various Govt. of India Presses during the
period from January,1994 to December, 1999.
(4) SYSTEM 272:
The system 272 of Monotype U.K. was purchased in the
year 1983. It has become obsolete and declared unserviceable on
8.4.1994 due to non-availability of spare parts and change in
the printing technology.
(5) ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES:
Two Envelope Making Machines and other accessories were
purchased through the DGS&D. The machines remain idle for some
time due to non-installation/non-commissioning by the authorized
representatives. Subsequently, these machines were installed
and are now in productive use in the Govt. of India Presses at
Aligarh and Nasik. However, the case regarding procurement of
these machines has been referred to the Central Bureau of
Investigation for investigation.
(6) MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT WERE PURCHASED IN THE YEAR 1988-89
AT GOVT. OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD:
The Machinery and equipment were purchased in the year
1988-89 for modernization of Govt. of India Press, Minto Road,
which caters to the requirement of Parliament. The equipment
installed are working satisfactorily and the jobs of both the
Houses of Parliament and other Departments/Ministry are being
executed, in this press.
(7) DIGITEK PTS UNIT AND ADAST DOMINENT 725-P MACHINES:
These machines were installed in the Govt. of India
Press (Letter Press Unit), Faridabad. The Digitek PTS Unit was
installed in the year 1990 and had been in productive use.
However, in the year 1996 Laser Printer of the Unit developed
faults which could not be repaired due to non-availability of
spare parts inspite of best efforts. Besides, the Red Light
Sensitive Resin Coated (RC) paper required to take output from
the system was available in the market at the time of
installation of the machinery but subsequently the manufacturer
stopped its manufacture. As the System could not take any other
sensitive paper it could not be utilized any further. The Adast
Dominant 725-P two colour perfecting offset printing machine was
installed in 1992 and has been in productive use.
(8) 4 NOs. MILLER GERMANY OFFSET MACHINES:
These machines were purchased in the year 1987 and are in
use for day to day production of Parliament papers and other
jobs of Ministries/Departments. There is no proposal to replace
them as they are giving satisfactory production. They are not
lying in a state of semi-idleness and are being run in two
shifts.
(9) PRINTING OF JPC REPORT THROUGH P.S. PRESS SERVICES, OKHLA,
NEW DELHI:
Printing of the Joint Parliamentary Committee was neither
entrusted to the Directorate of Printing nor this Ministry has
any knowledge about its printing through a private press.
(10) ALLOTMENT OF PRESS POOL ACCOMMODATION TO THE JOINT DIRECTOR
(ADMN.) IN THE DIRECTORATE OF PRINTING:
The allotment of Type D Press Pool accommodation to the
Officer was made with the approval of the competent authority on
15.1.1997 after following the relevant rules/procedures. At the
time of allotment it was found that out of ten Type D qyarters
placed at the disposal of the Headquarters Office of the
Directorate of Printing from the Govt. of India Press, Minto
Road, four were lying vacant. Therefore, one such vacant
quarter was allotted to the said Officer as he was eligible for
such class/type of accommodation. It was with the condition
that he would have to vacate the same when required by any other
eligible officer posted in the Headquarters Office of the
Directorate of Printing.
(11) COMPLAINT OF WIDOW OF DECEASED EMPLOYEES OF GOVT. OF INDIA
PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI:
Smt. Rita Rani widow of deceased employee of Govt. of
India Press, Minto Road filed a complaint/affidavit against the
Joint Director (Admn.) in the Dte. of Printing. Certain Police
Officials from the Tughlak Road Police Station, New Delhi came
to him for obtaining his version. The Joint Director (Admn.)
claimed that the affidavit was totally false. The matter was
inquired into by the concerned Police Authorities who found that
no cognizable offence was made out. Therefore, the said
complaints/affidavit of Smt. Rita Rani was filed accordingly as
per law by the Police Authorities. Information/replies to
Parliament Questions and representations received on the subject
have been based on the report received from the Station House
Officer, Tughlak Road Police Station vide communication No.3091
SHO/T-Rd dated 25.11.1999 and there is no question of
fabrication/manipulation in this regarde.
(12) TRANSFER OF ASSTT. MANAGER (ADMN.) FROM GOVT. OF INDIA
PRESS, MINTO ROAD:
The concerned Asstt. Manager (Admn.) in the Govt. of
India Press, Minto Road took up charge with effect from
16.3.1999. He has been charge sheeted under rule 14 of the CCS
(CCA) Rules on 1.5.2000 for his involvement in a fabricated
Transfer Travelling Allowance Claim during his tenure in Govt.
of India Press, Faridabad. He has to discharge the normal
functions of Asstt. Manager (Admn.) irrespective of his place
of posting. He is neither the disciplinary authority nor the
vigilance officer in the Govt. of India Press, Minto Road.
Moreover, his charge sheet pertains to his actions during his
tenure in Govt. of India Press, Faridabad. Therefore, it may
not be advisable to pre-judge and prejudice the entire
proceedings by transferring him at this stage on the grounds of
a pending disciplinary case. As regards, invoolvement in the
matter of subletting the press pool accommodation the concerned
officer has denied his involvement and also declined any
allegations about receiving commission.
(13) POSTING OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR (VIGILANCE) IN THE DIRECTORATE
OF PRINTING:
There are no specific instructions regarding posting of
subordinate officers/staff in the Vigilance Unit of the
Attached/Subordinate Offices. The Vigilance Manual provides
that Vigilance Officer in the Attached/ Subordinate Offices will
be appointed in consultation with the Chief Vigilance Officer in
the respective Ministry/Department. The concerned officer was
not acting as the Vigilance Officer in the Directorate of
Printing, which is an attached office under the Ministry of
Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation. Moreover, there was no
charge of lack of integrity or moral turpitude against the said
officer. Therefore, the appointment/continuation in the pst of
Deputy Director (Vigilance) in the Directorate of Printing do
not appear to be in violation of the norms of the Central
Vigilance Commission. However, the said officer has since been
transferred from the post of Deputy Director (Vigilance).